Results 11,721-11,740 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Jan 2008)

Billy Kelleher: The Portuguese Presidency tabled for consideration, at the ESPHCA Council, on 5th December 2007, proposed Directives on Temporary Agency Work and the Organisation of Working Time in its efforts to fashion an overall compromise solution by way of an integrated approach to discussions of two sensitive dossiers. Regrettably, having identified the remaining issues of concern to various Member...

Written Answers — Employment Agencies Regulation: Employment Agencies Regulation (30 Jan 2008)

Billy Kelleher: As the Deputy may be aware I am currently finalising proposals for an Employment Agency Regulation Bill which will modernise regulation of the employment agency sector and which will repeal and replace the Employment Agency Act 1971. One of the features of this proposed Bill will be the establishment of a statutorily binding code of practice setting out standards of behaviour for employment...

Written Answers — Labour Inspectorate: Labour Inspectorate (30 Jan 2008)

Billy Kelleher: Considerable progress has been made in the recruitment and deployment of Labour Inspectors over the past year. There are now 79 Inspectors employed in the National Employment Rights Authority. Twenty new Inspectors were recruited by the National Employment Rights Authority during 2007 bringing the total number of Inspectors deployed at the 31 December 2007 to fifty. The twenty Inspectors...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: It is accepted in the House that the Bill is well meaning but its full consequences need to be examined in much greater detail, as has been said by other speakers. Reference was made to the Competition Authority in the context of the Competition Act 2002. The authority is completely independent and was set up statutorily in 2002. The Act was the culmination of a root and branch review of...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: However, we have a minimum wage in Ireland. There is none is Sweden and we must acknowledge this. I sometimes feel I live in a different area to some of the Deputies opposite. We have very robust and strong legislation to protect employees and ensure their rights are vindicated. The Employment Appeals Tribunal, Irish Human Rights Commission and Labour Relations Commission are instrumental...

Job Creation. (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I do not intend to engage in rhetoric but will outline the issues involved. I thank Deputy O'Donnell for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I have already clarified the issues which he raised last week. A central goal for this Government is the achievement of balanced regional development. The attractiveness of Limerick for inward investment lies in its position as a regional gateway...

Schools Building Projects. (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As he stated, it was raised previously by his late father and I understand the Deputy's interest in this school. This affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the position regarding the proposed new post-primary school in Buttevant. Modernising...

Schools Building Projects. (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: It is consistent.

Construction Industry. (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, who sends his apologies.I acknowledge fully the genuine difficulties experienced by homeowners whose homes have been affected by the use of pyrite in certain developments in and around County Dublin. The purchase of a home by any of us is a major investment, financially and...

Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The Ceann Comhairle might need one.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Ireland adopted a consistent and constructive approach in the discussions on the draft EU Directive on temporary Agency Work, at the ESPHCA Council, on 5 December. We fully supported the Portuguese Presidency in its efforts to fashion an overall compromise solution by way of an integrated approach to discussions of the two proposed Directives on the Organisation of Working Time and Temporary...

Community Employment Schemes. (12 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I understand what the Deputy is saying. As regards the community employment programme, in 1999 the programme was restructured to limit participation by new participants to three years, with effect from April 2000. This change was introduced to encourage unemployed persons to progress to training or education and employment options, where possible. However, this three-year cap was amended in...

Community Employment Schemes. (12 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: FÁS makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FÁS also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the continuation of community projects. This Government will continue to support the positive role of community employment schemes in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons, while at the same time...

Human Rights Issues. (12 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The Minister apologises for his absence and hopes the Deputy will understand why he is not here this evening. I wish to state unequivocally that we owe a debt of thanks to the Human Rights Commission for reviewing a matter which has rightly caused much concern across Europe and further afield. So-called extraordinary rendition is a seemingly innocuous term for an horrific and illegal...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (12 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: The current twelve-person board of the Health and Safety Authority ends its term of office on 19th December 2007. In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, I have invited organisations representative of employers and employees to nominate three persons each for membership of the new Board for a three-year term commencing on 20 December 2007. The Safety, Health and...

Industrial Development (12 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I refer to competitiveness in the global market place. IDA Ireland is actively pursuing all opportunities to promote Ireland as a whole but it also takes regional development into account in order to achieve a balance across the country. I note projects such as the Atlantic rail corridor, the tunnel under the Shannon, the University of Limerick...

Community Employment Schemes. (12 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The FÁS community employment programme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed-term basis. Community employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (6 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: Where a company has ceased trading but is still solvent and has not paid an employee in full, the employee may refer a complaint against that company to a Rights Commissioner. In accordance with the Payment of Wages Act 1991 non-payment of wages properly payable by an employer to an employee on any occasion will be regarded as an unlawful deduction from wages unless the deficiency or...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (6 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a Form P45 is required, under PAYE regulations, to be given by an employer to an employee on cessation of employment. This form certifies the employee's pay, tax and PRSI contributions from the start of the tax year to the date of the cessation, and also certifies that the deductions have been made in accordance with the instructions given by...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Dec 2007)

Billy Kelleher: NISO, the National Irish Safety Organisation, which is a voluntary and non-profit making body making a valuable contribution to occupational health and safety in Ireland was given €100,000 in 2006 and €75,000 in 2007 by my Department to assist its restructuring and redevelopment plan. It is proposed to make a grant of €100,000 available to NISO in the Estimates for 2008. In 2006, NISO...